On 06/02/2016 CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY filed a Property - Other Property Fraud lawsuit against CRISTINA TALUKDER. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Glendale Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is RALPH C. HOFER. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
****5396
06/02/2016
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Glendale Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
RALPH C. HOFER
CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY
ALCOVE TRUST
TALUKDER CRISTINA SY
TALUKDER MAHBOOB
TALUKDER CRISTINA
ABSARA L.L.C.
ABSARA L.L.C
TALUKDER DAVID
GIT INC.
TALUKDER CRISTINA AKA CRISTINA S. TALUKDER
ABSARA L.L.C [TRUSTEE]
RAGLAND KAREN A.
FITZGERALD & CAMPBELL
FITZGERALD GREGORY M.
6/2/2016: Unknown
9/6/2016: Unknown
9/21/2016: Proof of Service (not Summons and Complaint)
3/21/2017: Request
4/11/2017: Unknown
5/10/2017: Unknown
6/1/2017: Minute Order
7/21/2017: Minute Order
7/25/2017: Unknown
8/30/2017: Unknown
2/2/2018: Minute Order
5/17/2018: Unknown
7/16/2018: Notice of Motion
7/23/2018: Unknown
7/23/2018: Unknown
1/31/2019: Abstract of Judgment?Civil and Small Claims
1/31/2019: Abstract of Judgment?Civil and Small Claims
3/7/2019: Writ of Execution
Notice (of Unavailability of Counsel); Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Writ of Execution ((Los Angeles)); Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
at 08:30 AM in Department D; Case Management Conference (and 2) Status Conference reMediation and Discovery;) - Held
Certificate of Mailing for (Minute Order (Case Management Conference and 2) Status Conference re: Media...) of 03/05/2019); Filed by Clerk
Minute Order ( (Case Management Conference and 2) Status Conference re: Media...)); Filed by Clerk
Case Management Statement; Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Case Management Statement; Filed by MAHBOOB TALUKDER (Defendant)
Memorandum of Costs After Judgment, Acknowledgment of Credit, and Declaration of Accrued Interest; Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Notice of Ruling; Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Abstract of Judgment - Civil and Small Claims; Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Proof-Service/Summons; Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff
Proof-Service/Summons; Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Complaint filed-Summons Issued
Summons Filed
Summons; Filed by null
Complaint filed-Summons Issued; Filed by null
Notice of Case Management Conference
Notice of Case Reassignment and Order for Plaintiff to Give Notice
Civil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Notice (of Order to show Cause re: failure to comply with trial court delay reduction act); Filed by CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (Plaintiff)
Case Number: EC065396 Hearing Date: January 24, 2020 Dept: NCD
TENTATIVE RULING
Calendar: 15
Case Number: EC 065396
Date: 1/24/20 Trial date: March 2, 2020
Case Name: Chicago Title Insurance Company v. Talukder, et al.
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(OR, in the Alternative, Summary Adjudication)
[CCP § 437c; CRC 3.1350 et seq.]
Moving Party: Plaintiff Chicago Title Insurance Company
Responding Party: Defendant Mahboob Talukder
Relief Requested:
Summary judgment in favor of plaintiff Chicago Title Insurance Company and against defendant Mahboob Talukder aka David Talukder
In the alternative, summary adjudication of each cause of action
Causes of Action from Complaint
1) Fraud
2) Equitable Indemnity
3) Unjust Enrichment
4) Money Paid
SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT:
Plaintiff Chicago Title Insurance Company alleges that in April of 2003, Penny Martin-Dougherty, the then owner of real property in North Hollywood, became in default on her two deeds of trust, and the senior lender recorded its Notice of Default on the property. As a result, defendant Mahboob Talukder aka David Talukder, and Frank Gonzalez and John Castenade appeared at the property unsolicited and represented to Dougherty that they could assist her to pay off her mortgage through a reverse mortgage loan transaction.
Plaintiff alleges these persons represented to Dougherty that they would pay off her mortgage on the property, but that she would remain title owner of the property, and that they would pay to her the amount of $500 for 15 years. Dougherty agreed to the reverse mortgage and signed documents which included a blank grant deed. Plaintiff alleges that the grant deed was completed and recorded, purportedly conveying the property to GIT, Inc. a limited liability company of defendant David Talukder and defendant Cristina Talukder, which they treated as their alter ego.
Defendants did not pay the mortgages, and as a result the senior deed of trust recorded a notice of default. Thereafter, defendants executed a deed of trust purporting to encumber the property in the principal amount of $240,000. The property was then conveyed to defendant Cristina Talukder, through a corporation grant deed, which was also recorded. In April of 2004, Cristina Talukder conveyed the property to defendant Absara, LLC, as Trustee for the Alcove Trust, a company plaintiff alleges defendants David and Cristina Talukder treated as their alter ego.
In May of 2005, Absara, as trustee for Alcove Trust, conveyed the property to Carmen E. Echeverria by executing a Grant Deed, which was recorded in May of 2005.
Echeverria then obtained a loan in the principal amount of $344,000.00 from plaintiff’s insured, Resmae Mortgage Corporation, which loan was secured by a deed of trust on the property, recorded on May 25, 2005. Plaintiff alleges that in connection with this loan transaction, it issued a policy of title insurance to the insured on the property, based on its reasonable reliance on the various fraudulent deeds of trust and grant deeds recorded by defendants.
In June of 2006, Dougherty filed a lawsuit naming the insured as a defendant in a case alleging that she was a victim of fraud, that the documents she signed were for a reverse mortgage, not to convey title, and seeking cancellation of the deed of trust of the insured. The insured made a claim under the policy to plaintiff. Dougherty then succeeded in the lawsuit when the court issued a judgment against defendants David Takukder, GIT Inc., Cristina Taludker and Absara as trustee for Alcove, and cancelled the insured’s deed of trust.
Plaintiff alleges that it paid the amount of $344,000 to its insured in satisfaction of the claim, and that defendants have refused to pay or indemnify plaintiff for its losses.
The complaint alleges causes of action for fraud, equitable indemnification, restitution based on unjust enrichment, and money paid.
On September 14, 2016, the default of defendant Git, Inc. was entered. On October 13, 2016, the default of defendant Absara, LLC was entered. On March 17, 2017, the default of defendant Absar, LLC as trustee for Alcove Trust was entered.
On July 21, 2017, the court heard six unopposed motions to compel responses to discovery from defendants Cristina Talukder and Mahboob Talukder (aka David). There was no appearance for defendants at the hearing, and the motions were granted, and monetary sanctions awarded.
On February 2, 2018, the court heard two unopposed motions for terminating sanctions, based on the failure of Cristina Talukder and Mahboob Talukder to comply with the court’s orders of July 21, 2017 to serve responses to discovery or to pay sanctions. The motions were granted, and the court ordered the General Denial filed August 8, 2016 to be stricken as to each of the defendants. The court also awarded further monetary sanctions.
On March 9, 2018, plaintiff filed Requests for Entry of Default of Mahboob Talukder and Cristina Talukder, which were entered as requested the same date.
On June 4, 2018, the court entered judgment by the court by default based on plaintiff’s written declaration in the sum of $493,879.58 against defendants Cristina Talukder, Mahboob Talukder, Absara, LLC, Absara, LLC as Trustee, and GIT, Inc.
On October 19, 2018, the court heard a motion to set aside default and default judgment filed by defendant Mahboob Talukder. The motion was granted, based on defendant’s mistake, surprise and/or excusable neglect, and the default and default judgment entered as to Mahboob Talukder were set aside. The defaults and default judgment against the remaining defendants remain in effect.
ANALYSIS:
Plaintiff Chicago Title Insurance Company brings this motion seeking summary judgment in its favor in the sum of $344,000, plus attorney fees of $40,498.00, plus interest at the legal rate of 10% per annum from July 23, 2015.
Defendant Mahboob Talukder argues in opposition to the motion that this action is barred by a previous bankruptcy petition, discharge and injunction entered in favor of defendant in 2008.
Plaintiff in reply indicates that plaintiff had no knowledge that defendant had filed bankruptcy until it was brought up in the opposition to the motion for summary judgment, and requests that the hearing on the Motion for Summary Judgment be continued so that plaintiff may pursue its remedies against defendant in the bankruptcy court, by seeking to have the bankruptcy case reopened or to have the bankruptcy court otherwise clarify the status of the current claim with respect to the discharge. This appears reasonable, and the matter should be continued. The court also will continue the March 2020 trial date and other future dates.
RULING:
Motion for Summary Judgment, or in the Alternative, Summary Adjudication of Issues of Plaintiff Chicago Title Insurance Company:
The court notes that plaintiff has filed a reply in which it is stated that “Chicago respectfully requests that the hearing on the Motion for Summary Judgment be continued so that it may pursue its remedies against the Defendant in the bankruptcy Court.”
The request is granted. The matter is continued to June 19, 2020.
The court will set new trial dates and related dates at the hearing.